Tall Ship Adventure a bordo della Schooner Californian con ammissione generale

Had a great time , water and chips were passed out when we came back in. Went out of the harbor into the ocean. Everyone gets to help rsise the sails. 4 hours under sail. The first 30 min of the trip is explaining safety features. They fire the canons as well ..it does rock and roll ! So take your sea sick pills 💊 parking was hard to find and expensive 40$. But free parking is in old town . And you can walk or Uber.

I give this attraction 3.5 stars. SUMMARY Overall, I was expecting more narration during our Californian schooner adventure, perhaps about the ship, history and about surrounding San Diego sights. They did have two docents on-board who could answer any questions, but they weren't very forthcoming by themselves. The numerous, mostly voluntary crew worked hard and it was interesting to see how they worked as a team, erecting the sails, climbing the rigging and keeping a lookout for oncoming vessels, etc. It's a great way to see the sights and sounds in San Diego's harbor and out on the ocean. Read on for more details and see my attached photos. BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE We went on the California Schooner for my husband's birthday. It's a little pricey, but I'm always up for seeking out new things to do in San Diego. ($119 each plus parking in June 2025, which also includes admission to the Maritime Museum). It's a great way to see the sights in the harbor and we even sailed out into the open ocean for a while. BOOKED ON-LINE I booked on-line in advance and when we checked in at the white Maritime Museum kiosk in front of the museum on Harbor Drive where they gave us boarding passes. You may note whether there are any other major events going on downtown when you book. The year before, I had booked but realized last minute that the Rock-n-Roll Marathon coincided, so I cancelled, anticipating downtown road closures and chaos. SEE THE MUSEUM AS PART OF YOUR TICKET The museum was open 10am-5pm, so we had an hour and a half to see the museum before boarding time and an hour afterwards. We set sail at noon. The gift shop was closed by the time we exited, just after 5pm. RESTROOMS/TOILET Make sure to use the restroom at the museum. They do have one on board, but when they described how you operate it, I was not encouraged to use it. (I think that's their goal!) COMPLIMENTARY CHIPS AND WATER OR BRING YOUR OWN They offered a complimentary bag of salt and vinegar chips and a bottle of water on board, however since we were sailing over the lunch period, we brought our own picnic lunch. Any extra bags/coolers can be stored below deck. You do have to go backwards down a ladder to go below deck for the restroom, bag storage and to obtain the chips. ON BOARD While on board, you can sit or stand. You can take part in helping erect the sails at one point by pulling the rope in line with crew members. You can watch crew climb the rigging and listen and watch crew give and take orders. I thought the First Mate was a bit of a bear and he chastised one of the volunteer crew members at one point, but it is a lot of responsibility and I guess he was just doing his job. One exciting part is when they shoot the cannons into the harbor, right before returning to dock. (They shoot blanks). It's very loud and they recommend you cover your ears. WHAT YOU SEE As you sail, you can see the surrounding San Diego sites, the skyline, Ballast Point, the lighthouses at Point Loma, other sailing vessels, North Island, the Coronado bridge and shoreline, seals, birds, the Coronado islands, Navy vessels. WHY 3.5 OUT OF 5? Honestly, I could have cut the 4-hour trip in half. A couple of the young kids on board fell asleep and one couple sat and looked at their phones almost the entire time. Like I mentioned, I was expecting more narration and interaction. It's virtually a sightseeing cruise, but it's novel being on a tall ship. HOW TO DRESS We sailed on a particularly overcast day. I wore 4 layers of clothing, plus long pants, hiking shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Despite the overcast weather, I saw a fair-skinned person afterwards that looked quite sunburned in the face, so even if it's cloudy, cover up! There did not seem to be blankets offered if you were cold. PARKING We parked across the street underground at the San Diego County Administration Center which allows public parking on weekends. ($15 flat fee, June 2025). Allow time to park and to get to the museum and check in before you sail. Please click the thumbs-up if you found this helpful.

I really wanted to love this trip, but we were bored. It’s fun to watch put the sails up and take them dow, but mostly it’s an uncomfortable seat going into and out of the harbor area. The guys and gals working on the ship were fabulous. IDK. Just not for us I guess.

Exciting sailing aboard a tall ship out of San Diego into the Pacific. The crew worked as a team and the two docents shared historical perspectives.

Step aboard the "Californian" and step back in time for a fun, relaxing, informative sail of San Diego harbor. I enjoyed "joining" the crew by hauling lines in raising and lowering the sails. My wife enjoyed watching the sea glide by and we both loved the engaging, informative informal narration and history shared by the crew and onboard docents. The ticket includes water and snacks, available below decks in the cabin. And no need to worry about seasickness as this is a smooth, quiet trip at sea. We marveled as a pod of dolphins ran alongside the ship for a time before crossing our bow and journeying on. Firing the guns before returning to port was another bit of fun, making this the perfect experience for those who--like me--enjoy Patrick O'Brian's books and the "Master and Commander" film. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

This was an interesting trip that included admission to the excellent Maritime Museum. It wasn’t the comfiest of trips as you would expect on a boat like Californian - soft drinks and nibbles were provided but you had to climb down a ladder to the cabin below to get them. The toilet was also down there - so do take the opportunity of using the one upstairs in the museum before boarding. There were plenty of opportunities to get involved in the sailing of the ship helping the volunteers who do such a great job running it. We did enjoy our trip and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get hands on involved.